Gang members indicted for shooting at police

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, July 9, 2003

Gilberto Estrada, 19, and Jose Angel Ibarra, 21, are facing first degree felony charges with a maximum penalty of 99 years in prison.

The young duo has not entered a plea; Estrada is scheduled to appear in court July 23, and Ibarra on July 17.

The Baytown men were escorted out of the Hallabaloo nightclub at 716 1/2 Houston Blvd. three months ago for causing a disturbance inside.

By HEATHER L. NICHOLSON

Two off-duty South Houston police officers working security for the club noticed the men driving slowly through the parking lot in Ibarra's red 1997 Honda Accord.

The officers approached the car to ask the two men to leave, but Ibarra sped away.

"They returned a moment later and Estrada, who is a documented gang member, was seen pointing a handgun out the passenger-side window at the officers and fired three rounds in their direction," Sgt. John Laird said in April.

Bullets missed the law enforcement targets, but club patrons also standing outside said they heard the fired shots fly by, police said.

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Officers pursued the fleeing car southbound on Houston Boulevard for a brief chase. Estrada and Ibarra were arrested in the Sellers Brothers grocery store parking lot at Edgebrook and Highway 3, and the gun was later found hidden inside the car.